Report finds men are more reckless

MEN in Ireland are more confident but more reckless behind the wheel than their female counterparts according to a new gender analysis report issued by AA Motor Insurance. While males, particularly young male drivers, are broadly known to present a higher insurance risk, the AA's report further breaks down driver behaviours to allow for a better insight into why this is the case.

According to the 2010 edition of the RSA Collision Fact book, the risk of dying in a traffic crash in Ireland if you're male is about three times higher than for a female motorist.

The report findings also underpin the AA's belief that the European Court of Justice's Gender Equalization ruling, in effect across the EU since December 21st, is inherently unfair and fails to distinguish between equality and fairness. A recent AA review of 8 different insurance providers reveals that premiums for young female drives have been worst affected to date rising 24% on average.

In total twenty different indicators are featured in the AA's report which explores the behaviours of both sexes when presented with a wide range of driving scenarios. The report also looks at general attitudes towards car care and maintenance, factors which also affect road safety.

Discipline among males when it comes to motorway driving would also appear to be cause for major concern. The report identifies males as more likely to exceed the 120kph speed limit. They would also appear more likely by their own admission to have had a close call or crash on a motorway. Splitting this down further, males were more likely than females to have had a close shave on a motorway as a result of tailgating another vehicle, failing to signal their intent to change lanes, undertaking another vehicle and not having sufficient time to react to an unexpected hazard.

According to the report however men are not the worst culprits on every front. While virtually neck and neck in terms of making or receiving mobile calls while driving, a higher percentage of females (43%) than males (39%) admitted to the highly dangerous practice of texting while driving. Men also emerged as the more responsible sex when it comes to effectively combating driver fatigue. A slightly higher percentage of females (3%) than males (2%) polled shared they had crashed while driving on a roundabout.

Men do however fall down again when it comes to road rage. According to the report by AA Motor Insurance, men are quicker to excessively beep the horn, yell out the window, deliberately tailgate and even get out and confront someone when they become irritated by the actions of other drivers.